kexec(8) User Manuals kexec(8)NAME
kexec - directly boot into a new kernel
SYNOPSIS/sbin/kexec[-v(--version)][-f(--force)][-x(--no-ifdown)][-l(--load)][-p(--load-panic)][-u(--unload)][-e(--exec)][-t(--type)][--mem-min=addr][--mem-max=addr]DESCRIPTIONkexec is a system call that enables you to load and boot into another kernel from the currently running kernel.
kexec performs the function of the boot loader from within the kernel. The primary difference between a stan-
dard system boot and a kexec boot is that the hardware initialization normally performed by the BIOS or
firmware (depending on architecture) is not performed during a kexec boot. This has the effect of reducing the
time required for a reboot.
Make sure you have selected CONFIG_KEXEC=y when configuring the kernel. The CONFIG_KEXEC option enables the
kexec system call.
USAGE
Using kexec consists of
(1) loading the kernel to be rebooted to into memory, and
(2) actually rebooting to the pre-loaded kernel.
To load a kernel, the syntax is as follows:
kexec -l kernel-image --append=command-line-options --initrd=initrd-image
where kernel-image is the kernel file that you intend to reboot to.
Insert the command-line parameters that must be passed to the new kernel into command-line-options. Passing
the exact contents of /proc/cmdline into command-line-options is the safest way to ensure that correct values
are passed to the rebooting kernel.
The optional initrd-image is the initrd image to be used during boot.
It's also possible to invoke kexec without an option parameter. In that case, kexec loads the specified kernel
and then invokes shutdown(1). If the shutdown scripts of your Linux distribution support kexec-based reboot-
ing, they then call kexec-e just before actually rebooting the machine. That way, the machine does a clean
shutdown including all shutdown scripts.
EXAMPLE
For example, if the kernel image you want to reboot to is /boot/vmlinux, the contents of /proc/cmdline is
root=/dev/hda1, and the path to the initrd is /boot/initrd, then you would use the following command to load
the kernel:
kexec -l /boot/vmlinux --append=root=/dev/hda1 --initrd=/boot/initrd
After this kernel is loaded, it can be booted to at any time using the command:
kexec -e
OPTIONS-e(--exec)
Run the currently loaded kernel.
-f(--force)
Force an immediate kexec call, do not call shutdown(1) (contrary to the default action without any
option parameter). This option performs the same actions like executing -l and -e in one call.
-h(--help)
Open a help file for kexec.
-l(--load)kernel
Load the specified kernel into the current kernel.
-p(--load-panic)
Load the new kernel for use on panic.
-t(--type=type)
Specify that the new kernel is of this type.-u(--unload)
Unload the current kexec target kernel. If a capture kernel is being unloaded then specify -p with -u.
-v(--version)
Return the version number of the installed utility.
-x(--no-ifdown)
Shut down the running kernel, but restore the interface on reload. (If this option is used, it must be
specified last.)
--mem-min=addr
Specify the lowest memory address addr to load code into.
--mem-max=addr
Specify the highest memory address addr to load code into.
SUPPORTEDKERNELFILETYPESANDOPTIONSBeoboot-x86--args-elf
Pass ELF boot notes.
--args-linux
Pass Linux kernel style options.
-d(--debug)
Enable debugging messages.
--real-mode
Use the kernel's real mode entry point.
elf-x86--append=string
Append string to the kernel command line.
--command-line=string
Set the kernel command line to string.
--reuse-cmdline
Use the command line from the running system. When a panic kernel is loaded, it strips the
crashkernel parameter automatically. The BOOT_IMAGE parameter is also stripped.
--initrd=file
Use file as the kernel's initial ramdisk.
--ramdisk=file
Use file as the kernel's initial ramdisk.
bzImage-x86--append=string
Append string to the kernel command line.
--command-line=string
Set the kernel command line to string.
--reuse-cmdline
Use the command line from the running system. When a panic kernel is loaded, it strips the
crashkernel parameter automatically. The BOOT_IMAGE parameter is also stripped.
--initrd=file
Use file as the kernel's initial ramdisk.
--ramdisk=file
Use file as the kernel's initial ramdisk.
--real-mode
Use real-mode entry point.
multiboot-x86--command-line=string
Set the kernel command line to string.
--reuse-cmdline
Use the command line from the running system. When a panic kernel is loaded, it strips the
crashkernel parameter automatically. The BOOT_IMAGE parameter is also stripped.
--module=modarg1arg2...
Load module mod with command-line arguments arg1arg2... This parameter can be specified multi-
ple times.
ARCHITECTUREOPTIONS--console-serial
Enable the serial console.
--console-vga
Enable the VGA console.
--elf32-core-headers
Prepare core headers in ELF32 format.
--elf64-core-headers
Prepare core headers in ELF64 format.
--reset-vga
Attempt to reset a standard VGA device.
--serial=port
Specify the serial port for debug output.
--serial-baud=baud_rate
Specify the baudrate of the serial port.
Linux April 2006 kexec(8)